Brungard Named Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week
9/14/2026 10:08:00 AM | Football
Youngstown State quarterback Beau Brungard was named The Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of The Week after a massive win against Duquesne on Saturday afternoon.
The 2025 Walter Payton Award recipient accounted for a touchdown on all eight of his series on the field, setting YSU records for TD passes (six) and total TDs (eight), as the Penguins routed Duquesne 70-13. Brungard completed 20-of-23 passes for 290 yards, with his TDs going to five different receivers, and carried the ball 14 times for 111 yards and two scores.
It marks the third time in his career that Brungard has been named a National Player of the Week. Last year he received the honor following standout efforts against Robert Morris and Illinois State.
The Penguins are back in action this Saturday when they visit second-ranked South Dakota State in Brookings, S.D.
The Stats Perform FCS National Defensive Player of the week, Tye Niekamp, out of Illinois State, is a 5th year senior, middle linebacker who is a two-time first-team postseason All-American, who knows plenty about big performances in big games, and this time, he collected 11 tackles, two sacks and three tackles for loss in Illinois State's 28-24 victory at FBS foe Northern Illinois. The sacks marked a career high and the TFLs went for 15 yards in losses. He's up to 364 career tackles, highest among active Division I players.
The Stats Perform FCS Special Teams player of the week, Tre' Holloway, a wide receiver/returner for Tennessee Tech. Holloway's all-purpose assault powered new SoCon member Tennessee Tech past Samford 45-19 in its conference opener. He had 257 all-purpose yards and scored four touchdowns, including on a 76-yard punt return that was the third longest in program history. He also scored on 48- and 43-yard receptions and had a 4-yard rushing TD, with 129 of his yards coming off kickoff and punt returns.
Denver Harper was named The Stats Perform FCS National Freshman of the week, Harper is a wide receiver/punt returner for Austin Peay. Harper turned six touches into 196 all-purpose yards and scored three touchdowns as his United Athletic Conference team powered past Morehead State 63-7. He caught three passes for 124 yards, including 72- and 31-yard touchdowns, and scored on a 67-yard punt return with just 14 seconds remaining before halftime. He's averaged 48.6 yards on five TDs this season.
